History denied as Libertad stuns Winterbottom thriller

Top sprinter Overpass was the dominant favourite for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot but it was fellow Sydneysider Libertad who caused a boilover.

Jockey Jamie Mott rode a perfect race on Libertad, stalking the leader Overpass throughout before taking advantage of the favourite rolling off the fence on the home turn and dashing up the inside.

Libertad raced through to join Overpass at the 200m and the pair went head and head to the line with the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained five-year-old scoring by a nose with Rey Magnerio finishing a half-length back in third.

Mott had plenty of praise for the performance of Libertad to gun down the favourite after things didn't go quitter as smoothly as he hoped in the early stages.

"He had to go to a new level today and he was able to do that," said Mott.

"Overpass was fantastic in defeat. Probably didn't go as quick as I hoped.

"I sat on his back and I was quite keen for probably the first 400 (metres) and was a little concerned with doing that that he mightn't have the finish in him but when I was able to join Overpass and fight him off like he did, I thought it was a huge performance."

Libertad had been solid in his three runs this preparation despite being unplaced and went into the Winterbottom off the back of a strong closing two length fourth behind Giga Kick in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington.

Annabel Archibald was on hand to cheer home he underrated sprinter who started at $21 and was not only thrilled for her horse but also for Mott.

The pair have had a long association and this was their first Group 1 win together.

"He'd won a Group 2 and a couple of Group 3s and we were desperate to get a Group 1 with him," said Archibald.

"He's still an entire so we are so happy, especially for Trilogy (Racing) and there's plenty of decent owners in him and a couple have made the trip over.
"We've had a really good association with Jamie. He's ridden a couple of Group 2s and 3s for me and that's our first Group 1 together."

The Winterbottom win capped a remarkable day for the Archibald's with four winners in three states.
Black Run was victorious at Caulfield while Midnight In Tokyo and Space Tracker won at Doomben.